Temperature controlling liquid valve

ABSTRACT

The temperature of water within a container is regulated by a valve assembly admitting controlled amounts of water at a different temperature when a certain temperature limit within the container is exceeded. The valve assembly is submerged within the container and encloses a valve element exposed only to the inflow of water from the source.

United States Patent Walters 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] TEMPERATURECONTROLLING LIQUID VALVE [72] Inventor: William R. Walters, 1300 Sunset,Pawhuska, Okla. 74056 [22] Filed: June 27, 1969 [21] App1.No.: 837,147

1,916,325 7/1933 McAdams ..236/12 X 1,983,821 12/1934 Snediker.........236/91 X 2,099,643 11/1937 Werring ..236/99 X 2,270,641 1/1942Ruppert et a1. 1 37/90 X 2,430,133 11/1947 Muffly ..137/90 X 3,434,4883/1969 Talbot ..137/90 Primary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson AssistantExaminer-Richard Gerard Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B.Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT The temperature of water within a container isregulated by a valve assembly admitting controlled amounts of water at adifferent temperature when a certain temperature limit within thecontainer is exceededf'lhe valve assembly is submerged within thecontainer and encloses a valve element exposed only to the inflow ofwater from the source.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUFEB 15 I972 3.642.015

sum 1 UF 2 Fig. 7

William R. Walters INVENTOR.

PAIENIEIJFEB15 1972 3,642.015

sum 2 0F 2 William R. Walters IN V/iNTOR.

Am Wig/M TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING LIQUID VALVE This invention relates toapparatus for controlling the inflow of liquid from a source to a liquidcontainer or reservoir in order to regulate the temperature of theliquid within the reservoir.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a relativelysimple temperature-sensing valve assembly adapted to be completelysubmerged within a container of liquid yet reliably operative toregulate the temperature of this liquid by admitting controlled amountsof liquid at a different temperature from a source to which the valveassembly is connected.

In accordance with the present invention, a valve assembly is supportedby an inlet fitting mounted on the wall of a container or reservoir, theinlet fitting establishing fluid communication between the source and aninlet chamber upon opening of a valve element against a closing bias.The valve element is opened through a pivoted trigger element when thetemperature of the body of liquid within the reservoir exceeds apredetermined temperature limit. The trigger element is connected to thevalve element through an adjustable rod so as to regulate the valveopening and closing conditions as the temperature of the liquid varies.The inlet chamber of the valve assembly is separated from the body ofliquid being regulated so that the valve element is exposed only to theinflow ofliquid from the source. The trigger element through which thevalve element is pivotally displaced by means of a temperaturesensingarrangement, includes a portion projecting from its enclosing housing inorder to facilitate testing of the valve assembly. The valve assemblymay be conditioned for regulating the temperature of the liquid relativeto either a high or a low temperature limit. Thus, the valve assemblywill be useful to either prevent freezing of the liquid within thecontainer or prevent the liquid from becoming excessively hot.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the valve assembly in a typicalinstallation.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the valve assembly.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view of the valve assembly shown ofFIG. 4 reconditioned for operating at another temperature limit.

FIG. 6 is a partial side sectional view showing a modified form of valveassembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view with a portion in section showinganother installation for the valve assembly of FIGS. 1-4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrateone form of the valve assembly generally denoted by reference numeral 10mounted inside of a reservoir or container l4 completely submergedwithin a body of liquid 16 which is to be temperature regulated. Theliquid may be water for example and the function of the valve assembly10 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 is to prevent freezing ofthe water. Toward thisend, whenever the water reaches a temperature of 28 F., at a locationadjacent its top surface 18, water at a substantially higher temperatureis admitted into the reservoir from an available source of water underpressure connected to the reservoir by the conduit 20. As soon as thetemperature of the water 16 increases because of mixing with theincoming water from the source, the valve assembly 10 closes.

The valve assembly is supported inside of the reservoir by means of atubular fitting 22 having an externally threaded portion 24 projectingthrough the bottom wall 26 of the reservoir. An internally threadedconnector 28 couples the conduit to the fitting 22 and sealingly clampsthe fitting to the wall 26 of the reservoir. The externally threaded endportion 30 of the fitting inside of the reservoir is connected to thetubular, flow passage portion 32 of a valve housing 34 which is formedfrom a lower housing section 36 secured to the passage portion 32 and anupper housing section 38 peripherally secured to the lower housingsection 36 by a plurality of fasteners 40. In the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 4, a flexible diaphragm member 42 is peripherally clampedbetween the housing sections 36 and 38 to form an inlet chamber 44. Anoutlet port formation 46 is formed in the lower housing section 36 inorder to accommodate the outflow of liquid from the source into the bodyof liquid 16 for mixing therewith upon opening of a normally closedvalve mechanism 48.

The valve mechanism includes a valve body 50 as shown in FIG. 4internally secured within the passage portion 32 of the valve housing.The valve body is internally threaded for adjustably positioning atubular valve seat 52 through which a valve stem 54 extends. Aflow-responsive valve element 56 is secured to the lower end of thevalve stem and is adapted to engage the lower axial end of the valveseat 52 under the bias of a spring 58 and the inflow of liquid in orderto close the valve mechanism. The upper end of the valve stem 54 isconnected to a central portion of the diaphragm member 42 within theinlet chamber 44. I

The central portion of the diaphragm member outside of the inlet chamber44, is connected to the lower end of an externally threaded, adjustableactuating rod 60 which projects upwardly through aligned openings in theupper housing section 38 and in a laterally elongated, tubular housing62 secured to and supported on the upper housing section 38. The upperend of the actuating rod 60 projecting from the housing 62, is providedwith a knurled knob 64 so that upon rotation of the actuating rodrelative to the diaphragm member to which it is connected by a rotatablejoint 66, the position of a trigger lever element 68 may be adjusted.The trigger element extends longitudinally through the housing 62 and isprovided with an internally threaded opening 70 through which theactuating rod 60 threadedly extends. One end portion 72 of the triggerelement projects from the axial end of the housing above the valvehousing 34 in order to permit manual actuation of the valve mechanism48. The trigger element is pivotally mounted by the housing in spacedrelation to the actuating rod 60 by means ofa pivot pin 74. Two sets ofaligned openings are formed in the housing 62 through which the pivotpin 74 may be alternatively inserted in order to fulcrum the triggerelement either at fulcrum location 76 or at fulcrum location 78. In thecondition illustrated in FIG. 4, the pivot pin 74 extends through thefulcrum location 76 so that when the trigger element is angularlydisplaced about the pivot pin 74 in a clockwise direction, the triggerelement will be operative through the actuating rod 60 to downwardlydisplace the valve element 56 and thereby open the valve mechanism 48 toadmit water from the source into the inlet chamber 44 to be mixed withthe water within the reservoir.

Valve opening movement is imparted to the trigger element 68 by means ofa temperature-sensing device 80. The temperature-sensing device includesa casing 82 having an open threaded end portion threadedly mounted by anannular mounting portion 84 on the housing 22. The casing encloses aflexible coiled tube 86 having a lower, rigid end portion 88 engagingthe trigger element 68 on the side of the fulcrum 76 opposite theactuating rod 60. The end portion 88 closes the flexible tube coil 86,the opposite end of which is connected through a connecting tube portion90 to a bulbous sensing portion 92. The flexible tube portions enclose agas such as Freon which volumetrically changes in response totemperature changes causing axial displacement of the tube coil portion86. A spring 94 is disposed in alignment with the engaging end portion88 of the temperature sensing device within a tubular formation 96closed by a cap 98 in order to oppose the force exerted on the triggerelement by the temperaturesensing device thereby holding the triggerelement in constant engagement with the end portion 88 of thetemperaturesensing device. Thus, at a predetermined temperature such as28 F., the force with which the temperature-sensing device engages thetrigger element will be overcome by the upward force of spring 94 inorder to cause valve opening movement of the trigger element.

As hereinbefore indicated, valve opening movement of the trigger element68 is in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 and will be suitablefor preventing freezing of the water 16 within the reservoir. The valveassembly may however be conditioned for preventing the water within thereservoir from becoming excessively hot. Toward this end, the pivot pin74 is moved to its alternate location extending through the fulcrumportion 78 of the trigger element 68 as shown in FIG. 5. In thiscondition, when the temperature of the water rises above a predeterminedlimit, the expansion of the Freon gas within the flexible tubularportions of the sensing device 80 will exert through the engaging endportion 88, a downward force overcoming the force of spring 94. In viewof the mounting of the pivot pin 76 through the fulcrum portion 78 ofthe trigger element, downward displacement of the engaging end portion88 of the sensing device will cause clockwise, valve opening movement ofthe trigger element. Thus, the valve assembly may be conditioned forregulating the temperature of the liquid relative to a high or lowtemperature limit by changing the location of the fulcrum pivot pin.

An important feature of the present invention is to separate the valveelement from direct contact with the body of liquid being temperatureregulated. Accordingly, the diaphragm member 42 hereinbefore described,serves this function. The diaphragm member may however be eliminated infavor of an annular wiping seal device 100 secured to the valve housing34 within an opening through which a valve stem 54 extends as shown inFIG. 6. The valve stem 54 is associated with a valve mechanism 48' thatis similar in construction, arrangement and function to the valvemechanism 48 hereinbefore described except that the valve stem 54 isintegral with the externally threaded actuating rod 60'. Thus, thecombined actuating rod and valve stem may be rotated by the knob 64' toadjust the points at which the valve mechanism 48' is opened and closedby the trigger element 68 under control of the temperature-sensingdevice as hereinbefore described in combination with FIGS. 1 through 5.

FIG. 7 shows another installation for the valve assembly 10 from which aflexible temperature sensing tube 90' extends. The tube is coiled abouta waterline 94' within an insulating sheath 96. The valve assemblyitself is mounted by the T-connection 98' in the waterline. The valveassembly is adjusted as hereinbefore explained so as to open and conductan outflow of water from line 94 when the temperature of the water, assensed by the tube 90' in contact with the waterline, approaches afreezing value. Thus, flow of water from a warmer source is induced byopening of the valve assembly to thereby serve as a substitute forelectric heating tape presently used to prevent waterline freezing.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a reservoir of liquid and a pressurized source ofsaid liquid at a predetermined temperature, means for regulating thetemperature of the liquid within the reservoir comprising inlet valvemeans for admitting the liquid from the source into the reservoir andhaving an inlet chamber, a flow passage portion conducting liquid fromthe source to said inlet chamber and a flow-responsive valve elementnormally blocking flow of liquid through the flow passage portion, ahousing supported on the valve means and extending laterally therefrom,a trigger element having an end ortion projecting from the housinglabovethe valve means, ulcrum means pivotally mounting t e triggerelement'withm the housing, temperature-sensing means mounted on thehousing and engageable with the trigger element for pivotal displacementthereof in response to the temperature of the liquid within thereservoir, spring means mounted by the housing for maintaining thetemperature-sensing means in engagement with the trigger element, andactuating means connected with the valve element and with the triggerelement adjacent said end portion for transmitting opening movement tothe valve element when said temperature limit is exceeded.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fulcrum means includes apivot pin and alternate openings in the trigger ele ment through whichthe pin is selectively received on either side of the sensing meansrelative to the actuating means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the actuating means includes athreaded rod connected with the valve element and threadly connected tothe trigger element.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a wiping seal through which therod extends into the inlet chamber.

5. The combination of claim 3 including a tubular fitting connecting thesource to the passage portion of the valve means supporting the samesubmerged within the liquid inside the reservoir.

6. The combination of claim 1 including a diaphragm memberinterconnecting the actuating means with the valve element and sealingone from the other.

7. The combination of claim 1 including a tubular fitting connecting thesource to the passage portion of the valve means and supporting the samesubmerged within the liquid inside the reservoir.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said inlet valve means includesbiasing means for opposing movement of said valve member from the openposition to the normally closed position.

9. A device for controlling the temperature of a body of liquidcomprising valve assembly means for selectively preventing freezing andoverheating of the body of liquid by the addition of a liquid of adifferent temperature to the body of liquid, and means responsive to thetemperature of the body of liquid for actuating the valve assemblymeans, said valve assembly means including inlet valve means for addingthe different temperature liquid, a trigger element interconnecting theinlet valve means with said temperature-responsive means, and fulcrummeans pivotally mounting said trigger element and including a pivot pinand alternate openings in said trigger element through which the pin isselectively received on either side of the temperature-responsive meansrelative to the inlet valve means.

10. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said temperature-responsivemeans and said inlet valve means are spaced from each other along anintermediate section of said trigger member, one of said alternateopenings being located lat a point intermediate saidtemperature-responsive means .and said inlet valve means and another ofsaid alternate operiings being located at a point beyond saidintermediate section of said trigger member.

1. In combination with a reservoir of liquid and a pressurized source ofsaid liquid at a predetermined temperature, means for regulating thetemperature of the liquid within the reservoir comprising inlet valvemeans for admitting the liquid from the source into the reservoir andhaving an inlet chamber, a flow passage portion conducting liquid fromthe source to said inlet chamber and a flow-responsive valve elementnormally blocking flow of liquid through the flow passage portion, ahousing supported on the valve means and extending laterally therefrom,a trigger element having an end portion projecting from the housingabove the valve means, fulcrum means pivotally mounting the triggerelement within the housing, temperature-sensing means mounted on thehousing and engageable with the trigger element for pivotal displacementthereof in response to the temperature of the liquid within thereservoir, spring means mounted by the housing for maintaining thetemperature-sensing means in engagement with the trigger element, andactuating means connected with the valve element and with the triggerelement adjacent said end portion for transmitting opening movement tothe valve element when said temperature limit is exceeded.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said fulcrum means includes a pivot pinand alternate openings in the trigger element through which the pin isselectively received on either side of the sensing means relative to theactuating means.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the actuatingmeans includes a threaded rod connected with the valve element andthreadly connected to the trigger element.
 4. The combination of claim 3including a wiping seal through which the rod extends into the inletchamber.
 5. The combination of claim 3 including a tubular fittingconnecting the source to the passage portion of the valve meanssupporting the same submerged within the liquid inside the reservoir. 6.The combination of claim 1 including a diaphragm member interconnectingthe actuating means with the valve element and sealing one from theother.
 7. The combination of claim 1 including a tubular fittingconnecting the source to the passage portion of the valve means andsupporting the same submerged within the liquid inside the reservoir. 8.The combination of claim 1 wherein said inlet valve means includesbiasing means for opposing movement of said valve member from the openposition to the normally closed position.
 9. A device for controllingthe temperature of a body of liquid comprising valve assembly means forselectively preventing freezing and overheating of the body of liquid bythe addition of a liquid of a different temperature to the body ofliquid, and means responsive to the temperature of the body of liquidfor actuating the valve asseMbly means, said valve assembly meansincluding inlet valve means for adding the different temperature liquid,a trigger element interconnecting the inlet valve means with saidtemperature-responsive means, and fulcrum means pivotally mounting saidtrigger element and including a pivot pin and alternate openings in saidtrigger element through which the pin is selectively received on eitherside of the temperature-responsive means relative to the inlet valvemeans.
 10. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein saidtemperature-responsive means and said inlet valve means are spaced fromeach other along an intermediate section of said trigger member, one ofsaid alternate openings being located at a point intermediate saidtemperature-responsive means and said inlet valve means and another ofsaid alternate openings being located at a point beyond saidintermediate section of said trigger member.